By Anoushka Gandotra and Sarah Harper
Piedmont Park is a greenspace not only at the very heart of Atlanta but also in the hearts of Atlanta residents. From open fields to lakes, the more than 200-acre park serves as an oasis in the surrounding hustle and bustle of ever-progressing Atlanta. With the views of Midtown and the tranquility the park provides, visitors can have the best of both worlds. To understand the community-building effects and opinions of Piedmont Park fans, recognizing the park’s history is crucial.
Piedmont Park’s origins date back to 1834, when pioneer settlers Samuel and Sarah Walker purchased the forested land for $450. At the time, Atlanta had not yet been founded. Slowly, the Walkers cleared the forest and began converting it to farmland. Throughout the following generations, more land was cleared and more cabins were built. The area became a site for industrial and agricultural expositions, including the Cotton States and International Exposition, which was designed to foster trade between the South and the rest of the world. Fields of the area even held the first Georgia vs. Auburn football game in 1892 and served as a training ground for Atlanta’s first professional baseball team: the Crackers.
In both 1887 and 1894, the City of Atlanta was given the opportunity to purchase the land from its owners, but the city declined, citing the already-existing Grant Park. However, the third time was the charm: in 1904, the City of Atlanta purchased what would soon become one of its most prized possessions. In 1909, the Olmsted Brothers architected the landscape of the park, and today it is much like how the brothers initially envisioned it.
Hosting farmers markets and festivals like the Dogwood Festival, Music Midtown, and Atlanta Pride, the park today embodies Atlanta’s culture just as much as it did in the 19th century. Park users enjoy a myriad of such events, but they also have a wide range of opinions.
Some locals are concerned about the long-term effects of large festivals in the park. One retired pilot and Atlanta resident of 50 years named John said, “some of these events like Music Midtown are probably too big, and it really does some damage to the park.”
Other residents feel that improvements on the existing part of the park are needed. According to Loren Lownes, the volunteer manager at Piedmont Park Conservatory, the conservancy is “excited for [their] partners at Beltline Inc., who are currently working on the section of the path that will be cutting through Piedmont Park.” According to the BeltLine, the Northeast trail has been officially opened as of early November and will connect “neighborhoods to Piedmont Park, Ansley Mall, and under I-85.” Although the Piedmont Park Conservatory is not leading this project, it will still be a boost for the park, as it will attract more visitors and increase its accessibility from the many new entry points and provide a safe way for pedestrians and cyclists to cross below the I-85 highway.
While the park has a plethora of available activities, Piedmont Park Conservancy can always use more volunteers. Lownes said that “Georgia Tech students have been an excellent volunteer source in the past, and we are always excited to have more students come and give back to the park.” Volunteers have a variety of choices, from park clean-up to gardening. Those interested in volunteering can learn more about their options through the Piedmont Park Conservancy website.
The multiple facets of Piedmont Park allow for a great experience for Atlanta residents and visitors alike. The park has secured its place as an integral part of the city, and the volunteers help the park maintain that position. The intersection between small businesses, pleasure, development, culture, and greenery thrives in the park, and these aspects are and will continue to be the backbone of what makes Piedmont Park Atlanta’s urban oasis.
